desmotesta

Hello,

I have lurked on this board for months and just officially joined a few days ago.

I recently sold my beloved E39 M5 and am in the market for a proper “sports car”. I have always wanted a 911, 996TT being my favorite.

Favorites aside, I would like my garage queen to have low miles, fewest owners possible and the latest model year within my budget ($32,000-$35,000).
Obviously my budget cannot buy a used 996TT but the earliest model 997 may be possible.

Problem is, I would like to buy the car for “driving experience” and not just the “brand” or “model”, and I am apprehensive about buying an 8+ year old 911 just because its a 911 - once I look at the available options in that light, the Cayman S keeps popping its head up.

On paper, the Cayman S seems JUST as potent (in stock form, for weekend fun/occasional track day activity) as the 2005-2006 non-S 997 (again, restricted by my budget).

I understand that others have asked this question (mostly on the 997 forum) and after searching the archives I find the responses on the 997 section to be obviously biased towards the 997.

So the “iconic” Vs the “water down” argument aside, how does the driving experience of the Cayman S compare to the 997 911?
Is the Cayman “harder” to work on for basic DIYs given the powerplant location?
Is the 997 more “reliable” than the Cayman?


Ant feedback on this is much appreciated.

Thank you

unwitty

I went through a similar decision process 3 years ago. The short is that I went shopping for a 996 turbo, ended up with a new Cayman S. (My budget was in the $60 - $70k range.) I personally fell in love with the intimacy of having the mid-mount engine inches behind you.

If driving experience is your biggest concern, I say go test drive both. The Cayman S may surprise you. It's still very, very much a Porsche and very fun to drive. (More fun than a 911 from my perspective)

gmsracing

If you spend a couple grand in bolt on mods you are right up with the 911's power levels. And with the engine in the right place for better handling. If you don't need the back seats and you don't get hung up on "not having a 911" the Cayman is an excellent car. Early cars don't make great track cars though due to oiling issues. 911's still have a true dry sump that prevents oil starvation issues. In daily life the Cayman's engine has proven to be reliable. Some people experience clutch failures a little early in life.

I think the Cayman is actually a little easier to work on than the 911 as you have more top engine access, front engine access (behind the seats), and you don't have to remove body work to do things like exhaust and plugs. I've done a lot of work on mine and it is actually easier than the 944 series cars. (I've had 3 951's. Those are a pain!)

tcsracing1

You cant beat a 2009+ Caymen S for the money.
A few mods for cooling etc and you have a fun track car too.

996 is meh unless it is a GT3.

A basic 2005+ carrera is also a fun car but alas, for the money the caymen wins.

skl2

When I got my caymanS, it was between a 996 C4S or the CS. I decided if I couldn't have a GT3, I wanted a Cayman due to updated interior. A few thousand in mods and at 39K miles, it's faster than a 997S and I have had no reliability issues. It's as solid as the day I bought it and I will never sell it.

Jim in St.Louis

On a personal level, I have found that the 996 Turbo and 4S both perform very well, but the electronics take over too much control. I have found the base 911's give more driving satisfaction on the track, although are not quite as quick as the S. The Cayman has been a lot of fun on the track, because you can feel what is happening. IMHO

skl2

Agreed...there is a numbness, especially on the track, from AWD and other electronic nannies. That same numbness exists for anything when you are used to a fully sorted track car, like the SRF I enjoy tracking the Porsches, but doing a DE is NOT racing (even though plenty of people seem to act like it is) and in all honesty, have had more fun competing in spec mazda over the years. Looking for an F1000 next and when I have that, Im pretty sure I wont track the Porsches much.

Dr.Bill

Other than a GT3, the Cayman is the most fun to drive of any Porsche I've owned. Certainly not the fastest, but the most fun.

Jim in St.Louis

A DE and racing have a clear difference, although I really enjoy instructing, plus it is rare that I don't learn something every time I am on the track racing, instructing or just doing laps in the Cayman.
After doing DEs for a few years, the race pace was a shock. They are both fun but racing is much more intense.

HoBoJoe

Get to a dealer and test drive both. I recently took a 2005 911 base and 2011 cayman base out.

I preferred the driving experience in the Cayman.

tstiles

I'm new here and was faced with the same decision in the last couple of weeks.

I was sold on late 996/early 997 vs Cayman for a street car. (My race/track toy is an SCCA T4 Mazda MX5). Yesterday the wife and I went to drive a specific 996. Just for grins I asked to drive a Cayman.

We both drove the Cayman 1st , then the 996. When it was time for my wife to drive the 996 she replied , Don't need to drive the 996 , the Cayman is my preference.

The Cayman was already my preference so we pulled the trigger and this afternoon I pick up a much less powerful , much more refined Cayman that will be great for a fun street car.

I don't think the Cayman will see the track ( but I've said that before ) , but I can't see flogging this nice of a car the way I flog a race car.

cleong

I too am in this bracket for a P-car. I would like to keep it below 30 grand (having a spare 5 grand for incidentals) I am leaning toward the Cayman because there's more of them to choose from at this price point than early 997 (I suppose that is what is called 997.1). Newer, too, as 2005 plays 2008. And IMS/RMS on the early 997s.

Its very likely that I would own the car for two years and selling it on, so residuals matter. Would it cost me more to run a 997 or a Cayman over this period of time?

I will be in Connecticut, so if anyone's looking to shift their Cayman or Cayman S, hit me up for a viewing!

zedcat

I would expect maintenance to be very similar for the 997 vs 987- like oil changes, brakes, brake flush etc. Tires a little cheaper for the 987. Be aware the engines are basically the same except displacenment if comparing 2005 997 to 2008 987, both are M97. You need to go to 2009 or later in the Cayman to get the newer 9A1 motor that does not have the IMS. Still in general the newer the better. I've owned 997.1 C2S and two 987.2 Caymans. I like the Cayman, but the 997 coming out of corners with the power and all that weight over the rear is fun. Have to drive both to decide. Good luck, you really can't go wrong imo.